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Don Swearingen, DDS Blog

Do I need a root canal?

February 28, 2013

Filed under: Root Canal Treatment — Tags: , , , , — okcitydentist @ 8:28 am

I went in for my first filling. I kept filling some pain. She numbed me a second time, but it didn’t really help. Then she stopped, put in a temporary filling, and told me I needed a root canal. Is it possible I should have just been tougher and I don’t really need a root canal?

Deanne, from Albany, NY

Deanne,

I don’t think the problem was you not being tough enough. Sometimes, a dentist won’t know you actually need a root canal until they get in to do the filling. It’s likely that the cavity was deeper than was visible on the x-ray. If she got in there and saw that it had reached to pulp of your tooth, it was time to do a root canal.

That may have been one of the reasons that you weren’t able to get as numb as she was expecting. An infection can make it more difficult to get numb. Another thing that affects anesthetic is anxiety. If you are highly fearful of dental procedures, you can burn off all the numbing agent. One solution to this is to use sedation dentistry. This takes the edge off your anxiety and allows the anesthetic to work.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

12 Year old lost front tooth

February 15, 2013

Filed under: Missing Teeth — Tags: , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 2:15 pm

I’m hoping you can help me. We were in a car accident. The only one hurt was my poor 12 year old daughter, who lost a front tooth. She is distraught. I’ve already taken her to an emergency dentist. However, I need to figure out what to do for her appearance. All the emergency dentist did was remove the root tip. What are our options?

Deanne T.- Phoenix, AZ

Deanne,

First lets look long-term. Once she is old enough for a permanent solution, the ideal treatment is to have a dental implant placed. A dental bridge is a good “second place” solution too.  Her mouth is still changing, so it would be unwise to do it now. However, you need to make sure she receives a treatment that will not only make her feel comfortable with her appearance, but will also keep that space open so there will be enough room for an implant or bridge in the future.

Here are some options:

Hawley Retainer– This is your least expensive solution. It is a wire and acrylic retainer that has  a fake tooth attached to it. It stays in by using the suction of your mouth.

Essix Style Retainer– This has an invisible tray (sort of like Invisalign Braces) with a fake tooth attached.

A Delineator– I’m excited about this new option just recently put on the market. It is made of acrylic and plastic and uses the adjacent teeth to help it stay put, which makes it very stable. The thing I like most about it though is it ensures optimal implant placement. If you’re even considering a dental implant in her future, this is the best temporary solution.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Benefits of laser treatment for periodontal disease

January 31, 2013

Filed under: Gum Disease — Tags: — okcitydentist @ 9:30 pm

Are there any real benefits to laser periodontal therapy? My dentist suggested it, but it is much more expensive than the old fashioned method, which has always worked fine in the past.

Kevin C. – Baltimore, MD

Kevin,

Generally when the laser treatment is used there is less bleeding and discomfort, as well as a faster healing time. It will also reduce the bacteria levels in your pockets. There are even some lasers that can regenerate the bone and gum connective tissue, as well as the ligaments around the teeth.

I recommend you speak with your dentist about the severity of your gum disease. It may be your treatment will be effective no matter which method you use. However, you may decide your case is severe enough or the benefits are great enough that it is worth the extra expense.

You may also be interested in learning about teeth whitening.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Straightening teeth as an adult

January 18, 2013

Filed under: Crooked Teeth,Invisalign — Tags: , — okcitydentist @ 4:20 am

My parents never could afford braces for me, as a result, I am an adult with crooked teeth, which really bothers me. I’m sure it affects my standing in the work place. Is there a good way to straighten an adult’s teeth without braces? I don’t think that would look very professional.

Brent O. – Chicago

Brent,

You may be a candidate for Invisalign. These use clear aligners to straighten your teeth and cannot be seen by others. They’re very convenient and work faster than traditional braces. Usually you have completed treatment in 6 months to 1 year, depending on the severity of your case.

If that seems too long a time for you, you might consider porcelain veneers. These don’t actually straighten your teeth, but make them appear straight. The advantages to these are you can fix other things too like shape and color, enabling you to totally remake your smile. These can be done in just two appointments.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Insurance with tetracycline stains

December 31, 2012

Filed under: Tetracycline Stains — Tags: , — okcitydentist @ 8:36 pm

Will my medical insurance cover treatment for my tetracycline stains?

Penny A.- Los Angelos

Penny,

Unfortunately, medical insurance generally makes exclusions for any dental work.  You would have to check with your individual insurance to make sure.

If you really want to have them covered with porcelain veneers, you might look into having payments worked out through CareCredit.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Temporary crown fell off

December 19, 2012

Filed under: Porcelain Crowns — Tags: , , — okcitydentist @ 7:56 pm

My temporary crown fell off. Do I really need it back on? If so, how do I get it back on?

Dennis H.- Conway, AR

Dennis,

It is important you get your crown put on. If it is off even for a couple of days, your tooth could get damaged. But, even if it doesn’t, your teeth will begin to drift together, which will cause your new crown not to fit.  My recommendation is that you call your dentist. He or she should assume responsibility for getting this back on. If for some strange reason they don’t or they can’t get you in right away, you have some options. A denture adhesive will help, or sometimes you can find temporary dental cement at your local drug store. You may be interested in learning about porcelain crowns.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Fluoride

November 15, 2012

Filed under: Uncategorized — okcitydentist @ 3:43 pm

Not everyone needs prescription fluoride treatments. However, there are some recommendations. If you fall into this category, make sure you ask your dentist about getting some fluoride treatments:

  • Patients at high risk for tooth decay
  • Someone who is going through radiation treatments
  • People with poorly formed enamel
  • Patients with overly-sensitive teeth.

Though you can get fluoride over-the-counter, they only contain about 1000 to 1100 parts per million of fluoride. Prescription fluoride contains 5000 parts per million. Patients who use a prescription fluoride toothpaste can reduce their decay by about 70%.

If you fall into one of the above categories, talk to your dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Snap-on smile

November 5, 2012

Filed under: Snap-on Smile — Tags: , , — okcitydentist @ 3:51 pm

I have a small gap between my teeth, but can’t afford to close it. Will snap on smile make it look straight?

Destiny B.- Lansing, MI

Destiny,

You have two options for an affordable way to deal with your small gap.  One is Snap-on Smile. It will fit right over your teeth, effectively covering the gap. Almost any dentist can do it. It will not be the gorgeous smile of say porcelain veneers, but they will look decent until you can afford a different treatment.

A second option, depending on how small the gap is, would be to have dental bonding done. It would close your gap, and you wouldn’t have to wear anything over your teeth.

I hope this helps. This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Diet Soda and Tooth Decay

October 1, 2012

Filed under: Tooth decay — Tags: — okcitydentist @ 3:35 pm

My dentist thinks I need to cut down on my sodas because of my tooth decay. Is diet soda safe?

Shayne A. – Staten Island

Shayne,

Unfortunately both sugar and non-sugared drinks are bad for your teeth. Diet soda contains Sorbitol, Mannitol, or Saccharine, any one of which can break down your tooth enamel. They, as well as sport and fruit drinks, also contain acid. This will also break down your enamel.

The safest thing to do is limit your soda intake to just a few a week. Don’t drink them throughout the day. Also, if you drink an acid containing beverage, make sure you rinse your mouth with water to help neutralize the acid before you brush your teeth. Otherwise, you’ll be grinding the acid into your teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Smile Makeover for a recovering bulimic

September 22, 2012

Filed under: Bulimia,Porcelain Crowns — Tags: , , — okcitydentist @ 10:34 pm

I am a recovering bulimic. I am really embarrassed about the state of my smile and want to get a smile makeover. Now that I’ve gotten my issue under control, it will give me kind of a clean slate. Are porcelain veneers a good option for me?

Barbara K.- Michigan

Barbara,

Porcelain veneers are a great way to renew a smile makeover, but they will only deal with the front of your teeth. As a recovering bulimic, you really need to put most of your consideration on the back of your teeth, because that is where most of the damage has occurred. A great option for that is to get porcelain crowns. It will remake the front, back, and sides of your teeth.

When treating recovering bulimics we’ve noticed how much it helped their confidence to have a new, undamaged smile. We often hear they enjoy feeling both normal and beautiful, and are especially relieved not to have their smile as a reminder of their past.

One word of warning–Make sure you go to a skilled cosmetic dentist. You don’t want to end up with shoddy workmanship. Any dentist can claim to be a cosmetic dentist, because there isn’t an official cosmetic dentistry specialty. You don’t want to spend all that money on a smile makeover only to be disappointed with it.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

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